15 Secret Things In Austin You Didn’t Know Existed

1. Another Man’s Trash Equals Austin Treasure

Hidden in the backyard of a quiet neighborhood on the south side of Austin, the Cathedral of Junk has been in the making for more than 25 years. Unseen from the street, the Cathedral consists of stacks and corridors of items without a use elsewhere in society. Lucky visitors who discover this hidden gem often bring a piece of their own junk to donate when they come to check it out for themselves.

2. A Shrine To The Strange And Unusual

The Museum of Natural and Artificial Emphemerata is a family-run collection of bizarre items from around the world. Things like a two-headed cows and mermaids are regular sightings at the museum, as visitors walk around the house waiting to be shocked at every turn.

3. Oh You Have A Mansion? P’shaw, Austin’s Got A Castle

In fact, they’ve got a castle. Just outside of Austin, lies Falkenstein Castle in the heart of hill country. With rooms stretching to cover roughly 175,000 square feet on a 113 plot of land, the building makes a compelling argument for the common claim that everything is bigger in Texas.

4. Take A Dip Far From The Beaten Track

Hamilton Pool Reserve is a great place to cool off on a hot day. Many years ago, the roof of an underground river collapsed, revealing the pristine water below and creating a great natural swimming hole near Austin.

5. It May Be Small But Dirty Bill’s Will Make You Feel At Gnome

At first glance, Dirty Bill’s is a lot like any other dive bar: dim, worn, filled with booze. However, after the first drink, patrons start to realize things here are a little different. Every wall is filled with photographs of Dirty Bill, a lawn gnome. In these photos, he’s doing all sorts of things from skydiving to nestling in the arms of Bill Murray (yes, the Bill Murray). If you’re lucky, you might be able to snag a photo with Dirty Bill yourself.

6. Three Words: Chicken Sh*t Bingo

The crowd comes alive on Sunday’s at Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon for a sport that’s one of a kind, chicken sh*t bingo. Basically, the game consists of chicken poop falling on numbered squares and lucky audience members getting money where the poop will land. So, um, may the poop be ever in your favor?

7. Spend A Night In Your Very Own Eco-Friendly Fairy Tale

Casa Neverlandia isn’t a standard art gallery, it’s also a two-bedroom ecofriendly home that’s been filled with pieces slowly over time. This bungalow-style building has all sorts of quirky constructions, sure to remind visitors of their favorite Dr. Seuss book. It’s one of the world’s greenest and most peculiar homes.

8. Austin’s Got Some Sweet Graffiti.

More often than not, when graffiti pops up, a city will quickly take it down. Fortunately, this isn’t the case with Austin’s Graffiti Park, also known as HOPE Outdoor Gallery, on 11th and Baylor. This project embraces street artists and muralists, allowing them to display their art on a fun and beautiful canvas.

9. University Of Texas Is Basically The Death Star

The Texas Petawatt Laser might not be capable of destroying an entire planet, but it’s got to be pretty close. The laser is capable of operating at over one petawatt, making it the highest powered laser in the entire world when it was unveiled in 2008. To put that in perspective, its power output is 2,000 times more than every power plant in the country and it shines brighter than the surface of the sun. So seriously folks, don’t mess with Texas.

10. So Yeah, Sometimes Gorillas Roam Freely In Austin

Source: flickr user jdn

Once a year, a crowd gathers in Austin to raise money for the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund. While it might be interesting to release wild gorillas into downtown Austin, this group opts to don a gorilla costume and hold a 5k instead.

11. Torchy’s Tacos are Amazing, But Their Secret Menu Is Even Better

One of the only taco stands in the nation capable of launching tacos to an audience with a Gatling gun style cannon, Torchy’s Tacos has been recognized as one of the best in Austin for years. But that’s just the beginning, because Torchy’s has a secret… a secret menu that is. If you’re feeling brave, try the Ace of Spades: a jalapeno sausage link topped with grilled brisket and a fried egg, green chili queso, cotija cheese, sour cream, another type of cheese and Diablo sauce on a soft tortilla. Not sure if something that crazy is still considered a taco, but it sure sounds good.

12. Austin’s Got A Forest… Of Sculptures

And luckily, a lot of them are in one place, The Umlauf Sculpture Garden. In a natural oasis, the garden houses over 168 pieces created by Charles Umlauf, as well as temporary galleries representing the work of other artists. It’s a great place to get lost.

13. A Lawn Full Of Polka Dots… That’s An Actual Thing That Exists Here

In keeping with the whole theme of “keeping Austin weird,” one home on West 29th and Glenview is doing their part—and then some—with their yard filled with colored polka dots. It even matches their brightly colored stucco house, and it’s something that can’t be missed.

14. Austin Throws An Annual Birthday Party For Everyone’s Favorite Fictional Donkey

In 1963, someone decided that Eeyore needed a little love and decided to throw him a party. Since then, Eeyore’s Birthday Party has developed into a music festival featuring live bands, food, and drink vendors, with money going towards several local non-profits. Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes and bring their own instruments to jam with.

15. Where We’re Going We Don’t Need Clothes (But They Are Optional)

Hippie Hollow is a clothing optional park roughly 20 minutes outside of Austin. From the rocky beach, visitors are able to get in touch with a more...ahem…au naturale side of Austin. Senior discounts are available. As any long-term resident will know, Austin is a one-of-a-kind city, with something new and unique on every block. From live music to tacos that are to-die-for, Austin has it all. Hopefully the “Keep Austin Weird” movement is successful, assisting Austin in holding its spot as one of the coolest cities in America.